Fab welly walks in Norfolk

It’s that time of the year when you want to get outside after the dark Winter. So whack on the wellies, grab a warm coat and squelch around Norfolk to your heart’s content…

Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden

There’s 130 acres of ancient woodland to explore, with more than 3.5 miles of paths, and wildlife to look out for such as deer, otters and kingfishers. Plus, this is in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, so expect stunning waterside scenery.

Blickling estate

Run by the National Trust, Blickling Estate has formal gardens and a wonderful hall, of course, but it’s the vast tracks of countryside and forest that you’ve come for, with lots of waymarked trails. See if you can find the pyramid mausoleum! Dogs are welcome, but must be on leads in signed areas. Afterwards, there’s cafes (one called, appropriately, Muddy Boots!) and a pub for refreshments.

Holkham beach

University of East Anglia

The university has its own broad, linked to the River Yare, with lots of trails in the woods. Dogs will love taking a dip! Afterwards, you could enjoy a little culture with a visit to the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts – otherwise known as the HQ of Marvel’s Avengers. Yes, really!

Thetford Forest

Park up at High Lodge, stride out into over 20,000 hectares of lowland pine forest, and marvel that this natural adventure playground in the Brecks was actually only planted by the Forestry Commission after the first world war.

Burnham Overy Staithe

Be careful where you park the car here, as the tide takes precedence in the car park! At low tide you can probably walk across the River Burn to the tidal creeks and salt marshes and Gun Hill, but otherwise head out on the trail that’s part of the Norfolk Coast Path. While you're walking you can muse that this is where Horatio Nelson learnt to sail. If you’re really in an adventurous mood you could get to Scolt Head Island, a delight for mudlarks!

Snettisham Nature Reserve

Where better to splash around in the mud than The Wash! At Snettisham you can combine your welly walk with some of the best birdwatching in the country. Afterwards head to the nearby Rose & Crown for delicious refreshments.

Burgh Castle

Walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans at this wonderful location near Great Yarmouth and imagine a time when the east coast’s top seaside resort wasn’t even a sandbank! When this castle was built, it was on the south bank of a mile-wide estuary that allowed ships to be sailed all the way to Norwich. Nowadays, you can look across to Halvergate Marshes, Breydon Water and Berney Arms windmill.

Hunstanton

Come here at low tide and explore the rockpools, marvel at the multi-coloured cliffs, maybe head over to Holme Nature Reserve and finish your day with a trip to the Sea Life Sanctuary to see the seals.